Sterile package

ABSTRACT

A package for an elongated surgical device such as a catheter includes an elongated back panel having a longitudinal generally medial score line intersected by a pair of score lines converging toward the medial score line and extending to the long sides of the backing panel. The latter is constructed and arranged to support the elongated surgical device which lies in alignment with the medial score line, the surgical device having a portion thereof extending beyond the converging score lines and toward an end of the backing panel. A closing panel of resinous flexible sheet material ovelies the backing panel and encloses the device against the backing panel, the closing panel being secured to the backing panel along the perimeter thereof, the backing panel being foldable along the converging score lines to divide the same into an easel portion and a trough portion supporting the device after the closing panel is separated from the easel portion.

United States Patent [1 1 Helms June 17, 1975 1 STERILE PACKAGE [75] Inventor: Charles Robert Helms, Barto, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America, 9

Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Apr.ll, 1974 21 Appl/Noi 459,942

[52] US. Cl. 206/364; 206/45.1'8; 206/45.24;

, 206/469; 206/495; 206/498 51 Int. cm B650 s/so; A61M' 25/02 58 Field ofSearch ..206/498,495,439,364,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,123 3/1938 Eisele 206/365 3,035,691 5/1962 Rasmussen et a]. 206/364 3,036,700 5/1962 Krug 206/365 3,074,540 1/1963 Beich et al.. 206/469 3,075,639 1/1963 Lingley 206/469 3,732,975 5/1973 Poncy 206/212 Primary Examiner-William I. Price Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Bernstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarpenter, Ostis & Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A package for an elongated surgical device such as a catheter includes an elongated back panel having a longitudinal generally medial score line intersected by apair of score lines converging toward the medial score line and extending to the long sides of the backing panel. The latter is constructed and arranged to support'the elongated surgical device which lies in alignment with the medial score line, the surgical device having a portion thereof extending beyond the converging score lines and toward an end of the backing panel. A closing panel of resinous flexible sheet material ovelies the backing panel and encloses the 'device against the backing panel, the closing panel being secured to the backing panel along the perimeter thereof, the backing panel being foldable along the converging score lines to divide the same into an easel portion and a trough portion supporting the device after the closing panel is separated from the easel portion.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures STERILE PACKAGE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a peelable seal package according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the package creased along a medial longitudinal score line;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, and showing the back panel folded along a pair of transversely extending converging score lines to divide the backing panel into an easel portion and a trough portion;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the longitudinal medial score line; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

The peelable seal package according to one embodiment of the invention is denoted by the reference numeral l and includes a backing panel 11 having a longitudinal extending medial score line 11A therein. The latter is intersected by converging transverse score lines 12 and 13 disposed near one end of the backing panel 11, the converging score lines intersecting the medial score line 11A at a point of intersection 16. Medial score line 11A and converging score lines 12 and 13 which extend to side edges 14 of the backing panel and which divide the backing panel 11 into a trough portion having two long side-by-side trough panels 17 and an easel portion having two shorter side-by-side easel panels 18.

An elongated surgical device such as a catheter C is placed in position atop the medial score line 11A and an end E thereon extends beyond the intersection 16 and over the shorter easel panels 18. A closing panel indicated generally by the reference numeral 19 is secured t0 the backing panel 11 adjacent a perimeter P of the closing panel 19, and the entire assembly thus far described may be thoroughly sterilized in an autoclave or comparable device.

The structure according to the present invention may be opened without sepsis of the catheter C, and the backing panel 11 is foled along the converging score lines 12 and 13 after the closing panel 19 is separated from the backing panel 11, as seen in FIG. 3. The end E then extends beyong the trough defined by the long trough panels 17, and in position above a supporting surface, not shown, for support of the package 10. In such position as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the catheter C can be slid out from the trough portion defined by the panel portion 17, for use in aseptic condition thereof.

In FIG. there is shown another embodiment of the invention, this embodiment being characterized by the absence of a longitudinal medial score line 11A and by a pair of converging score lines 21 which extend to side edges 22 of the backing panel 11, to define as before a trough portion 20 and an easel portion 23. In this embodiment of the invention the backing panel 11 is covered by a closing panel 19 as with the previous em bodiment described, and when the closing panel 19 is peeled from the backing panel 11, and the easel portion 23 is folded to the position as seen in FIG. 5 the end E of catheter C is exposed for removing in an aseptic condition.

I claim:

1. A sterile package for an elongated surgical article such as a catheter or the like comprising:

a. an elongated backing panel formed of a unitary blank of foldable paperboard;

b. a closing panel of flexible sheet material overlying said backing panel for enclosing said article against said backing panel;

0. said closing panel being secured to said backing panel adjacent the perimeter thereof;

(1. said backing panel including a major section and a minor section separated from each other by a score line;

e. said score line extending generally transversely across said backing panel but in a direction other than straight across, so that when said minor section is folded downwardly from said major section on said score line, a longitudinally extending depression is formed in said major section to provide a trough for supporting a major portion of said article, with the remaining portion of said article extending over said score line beyond said major section, and a bow is formed in said minor section so that said minor section serves as an easel for supporting an adjacent end of said major section.

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein said transverse score line has a slightly arcuate curve which causes said major portion to bow in the central area when said minor section is folded downwardly therefrom.

3. A package according to claim 1, wherein said backing panel has a medial score line extending longitudinally thereof. I

4. A package according to claim 3, wherein said transverse score line includes a pair of diverging straight sections which extend from said medial score line to the sides of said backing panel. 

1. A sterile package for an elongated surgical article such as a catheter or the like comprising: a. an elongated backing panel formed of a unitary blank of foldable paperboard; b. a closing panel of flexible sheet material overlying said backing panel for enclosing said article against said backing panel; c. said closing panel being secured to said backing panel adjacent the perimeter thereof; d. said backing panel including a major section and a minor section separated from each other by a score line; e. said score line extending generally transversely across said backing panel but in a direction other than straight across, so that when said minor section is folded downwardly from said major section on said score line, a longitudinally extending depression is formed in said major section to provide a trough for supporting a major portion of said article, with the remaining portion of said article extending over said score line beyond said major section, and a bow is formed in said minor section so that said minor section serves as an easel for supporting an adjacent end of said major section.
 2. A package according to claim 1, wherein said transverse score line has a slightly arcuate curve which causes said major portion to bow in the central area when said minor section is folded downwardly therefrom.
 3. A package according to claim 1, wherein said backing panel has a medial score line extending longitudinally thereof.
 4. A package according to claim 3, wherein said transverse score line includes a pair of diverging straight sections which extend from said medial score line to the sides of said backing panel. 